John
12The feast for
Jesus with Lazarus present 1Jesus enters
Jerusalem as king 12Some Greeks arrange
to see Jesus 20Jesus is honored
from heaven, speaks of His mission and His death 27People refused
to believe in spite of miracles 37Some chief rulers
believed but did not confess him 42Belief on Christ,
judging Him, being judged by Him 44

Text

Comments

.1
¶ Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus
was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him
a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the
table with him..3
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed
the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was
filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of
his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment
sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not
that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag,
and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let
her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always
ye have with you; but me ye have not always. 9 Much people of the
Jews therefore knew [found out] that he was there: and they came not for
Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised
from the dead. 1 -
Where
Lazarus was See jn1101. 2 -
They
made him a supper Mark and Matthew describe the meal as in the
home of "Simon the Leper" although he had been healed by Jesus
mr1403ff,
mt2606ff.

3 -
Mary
... anointed Judas was right in that it could have been given
to the poor v5, but it was an expression of her devotion, and the poor
would not have received all of it v6. What is your attitude (and mine)
about generous giving to support the work of the Lord? Jesus was anointed
a number of times, go.3 -
Feet
But also over His head mt2607,
mr1403.4 -
Simon's
son We assume his father was the Simon in whose house the meal
was provided.7 -
Against
the day The Greek is not totally clear. Jesus may have been
simply speaking of Mary's motive mt2612,
mr1408.

.12
¶ On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,.13
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna:
Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 13
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying, "Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
(RSV,
the order of the thoughts is here as it is in the Greek.)

12
- On the next day The other gospel accounts begin with more
background information mr1101,
mt2101,
lu1928.13
- Blessed is he who comes From ps11825f.13
- Even the King An allusion to zc0909.
The Jewish people expected the Messiah to come as a king. See on lu0418
. Also jn1836, jn1919.16
- Understood not ... at the firstmt2105.
Their hopes would soon be crushed.

14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is
written, 15 Fear not, daughter
of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. 16 These things understood
not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered
they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these
things unto him. 17 The people therefore
that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him
from the dead, bare record..18
For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had
done this miracle..19
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail
[or "accomplish"] nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.14
- Found a young ass [Donkey] Mark tells us how mr1101ff.15
- Fear not The Hebrew text being quoted does not contain
this phrase zc0909.
Compare is4009.16
- Understood not And Jesus didn't tell them more than he
had already said. Compare mt2105.
Perhaps the recovery from disappointment would give them fresh zeal and
understanding.19
- Pharisees Troubled by Jesus' popularity, they tried to
get the rejoicing to stop lu1939f.

.20
¶ And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship
at the feast: 21 The same came therefore
to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying,
Sir, we would see Jesus. 22 Philip cometh and
telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

20
- Greeks In contrast to the Pharisees of the previous verse.21
- Came ... to Philip The Greeks were not the first to be
blessed by this man's witness for Christ jn0145.
You and I can also experience the joy of such witness!

.23
And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man
should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I
say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth
alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his
life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep
it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve
me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be:
if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

23
- The hour is come Earlier it had not been time jn0204,
jn0730,
jn0821.
Jesus knew He was about to die and would have been encouraged by the Gentiles
who would be saved as a result is5311.23
- Glorified Read more verses.25
- He that loveth his life Just consider this verse in context.
What a powerful statement and challenge, and blessing!

.27
¶ Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from
this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour..28
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying,
I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The people therefore,
that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel
spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and
said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes..31
Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be
cast out..32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

27
- Save me, but don't - In view of this infinite submission
of our Lord, dare we complain about trials that come our way?28
- Glorify One of several times. See table
at re05.31
- Judgment The world was on trial. Would any accept the sacrifice
about to be made?31
- Prince of this world Cast out re1210a.32
- Drawall A marvelous gift. Sadly the majority refuse
the divine appeal.

33 This he said, signifying
what death he should die..34
The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth
for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is
this Son of man?.35
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk
while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh
in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light,
believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things
spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

.37
¶ But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed
not on him: 38 That the saying of
Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed
our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could
not believe, because that Esaias said again,.40
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should
not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted,
and I should heal them. 41 These things said
Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

37
- Believed not A sad situation.38
- Esaiah [Isaiah] ... fulfilled See is5301.39
- Could not believe They chose to be blind. This is what
we call the unpardonable sin mt1231.

.42
¶ Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but
because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be
put out of the synagogue:.43
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

42
-
Chief rulers Two prominent ones are mentioned in the connection
with receiving His body jn1938.42
- Did not confess Literally, "continued to not acknowledge."
This is a lesson for all of us.43
- Praise of men more The right thing is often not popular.
When standing for truth, we must also avoid an attitude of superiority
lu0923.

.44
¶ Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on
me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that seeth
me seeth him that sent me. 46 I am come a light
into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if any man hear
my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the
world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejecteth
me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that
I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day..49
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave
me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his
commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as
the Father said unto me, so I speak.

44
- Believeth on him that sent me Jesus came to reveal the
Father. The people believed in God but did not easily make the connection
that Jesus was also God jn1401.47
- Judge him not See on jn0317.50
- Even as the Father said Jesus spoke for the Father just
as the Holy Spirit speaks for Jesus jn1526,
jn1613.